Melting-furnace.



No. 662,0l9. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

A. FIAT.

MELTING FURNACE.

(Applicatinn filed Nov. 80, 1898A min (No Model) lllll'l l I IIIIHII mmL Unrrnn TATns ATENT FFICE.

ALBERT PIAT, or PARIS, FRANCE.

MELTlNG-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,019, dated November20, 1900,.

Application filed November 30, 1898. Serial No.697,881. (No model ToctZZ whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT PIAT, of the city of Paris, in the Republicof France, have invented a new Melting-Furnace, which is fully set forthin the following specification.

This patent relates to a new and improved furnace designed for meltingwith rapidity and economy metals and also ores, if necessary, in such amanner as to enable the said furnace to be constructed and the repairsthereof to be made under easy and economical conditions.

To enable the nature of my improved furnace (which is capable ofoperating as a eupola-crucible) to be clearly understood, reference ismade hereinafter to the two sheets of drawings, illustrating the saidfurnace in various views and sections.

Figure l is a vertical section on the axis of a furnace on the line 1 2and on the line 1 2' 3, Fig. 2, and showing the fireplace. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section on the line 10 11, Fig. l, and a view in plan of thefuel-distributer. Fig. 3 is an elevation, on a smaller scale, of thefurnace combined with an adjacent column, so as to allow of separatingand of operating the separate principal parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed. Fig. 4 is a view in plan of the general arrangement shown inFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, on a larger scale, of theoperating-coluinn for moving the various parts of the furnace. Fig. 6 isan elevation in section on the line 12 13, Fig. 7, partly broken away,showing the block by means of which the tapping is effected, showingalso the plug which serves to open and close the tap-hole m. Fig. 7 is aplan of the jointed plug. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the furnaceon the line 4 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section takenimmediately above the grate and its foundation. Fig. 10 is a section onthe line 6 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a section on the line 8 9 of Fig. 10.Fig. 12 is a vertical section on the line T V of Fig. 14 of amodification of the device for feeding and distributing the fuel to thefireplace. Fig. 13 is a section on the line N O of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is asection on the line P Q of Fig. 13 and L M of Fig. 12.

In furnaces of all forms which have formed the subject of my previouspatents the object has been to obtain (and this object has beenattained) the realization of considerable economy both from the point ofView of the time employed for melting a certain quantity of metal asalso from the point of view of the fuel which it has been necessary toburn to efiect said melting. In this mannerIhave succeeded in meltingone hundred kilos of bronze (this metal being taken as a type) in halfan hour with thirteen to fifteen per cent. of coke. The quality of themetal was not lessened iii any way. Another difliculty has, however,still to be overcome-namely, that of the great consumption of plumbagorelatively to the materials for which plumbago has hitherto beenindispensable both for the manufacture of the crucible designed tocontain the metal and also for the manufacture of the part known as theextension. The apparatus hereinafter described has for its object, amongother advantages, to allow of dispensing completely with the cruciblesand with extensions made with this expensive materialplumbag0especiallywhen the furnaces have certain dimensions and are of a certainimportance. This dispensing effects a considerable economy and alsoallows of a more practical use of the furnaces, especially for personswho inhabit distant countries, where it is not easy to procure articlesmade of plumbago, which are not only expensive, but also are very liableto be broken during transport. It is almost always easy in all countriesto obtain articles made of refractory earth, which, if said articles areof special forms, may be easily molded.

In the construction of the new furnace the arrangement indicated in myformer patents may be preservedthat is to say, the portability, theoscillation, and the tapping obtained by pouring the metal from the tapand with the aid of a beak attached to the beak of the crucible by meansof a gutter or channel. These means are known and need not be describedanew in the specification, in which it is more advisable to show anddescribe specially the new forms and arrangements which have been givento the new furnace and which offer, in addition to the economy of timeand fuel already realized by my former furnaces, the other and followingad vantages hereinafter stated:

First. The possibility of doing away with the crucibles proper and ofreplacing them by a receiver constructed of refractory earth ofdimensions varying according to the size of the furnaces, the materialsemployed being very economical and the articles made with said materialsbeing highly resistant to heat and wear and tear and being capable ofbeing readily made good or relined.

Second. Facility of obtaining the melted metal, of being able to tap, asis done in enpolas designed for melting cast-iron, and of running offfrom the lower part of the furnace a metal free from flowing slag.

Third. The possibility in the case of alloys of brass of stopping thetap-hole by means of a plug of pure metal or lined with refractoryearth, said plug being either entirely independent of the furnace orbeing pivoted on a center fixed on the furnace itself.

Fourth. The facility of continuously feeding the fireplace with fuel,while avoiding all danger of burning, and of introducing cold air,although the feeding of the fuel is effected laterally while the blastis on. The coke being charged into the fireplace in any desired smallquantities becomes ignited gradually and does not cool the incandescentmass.

Fifth. The possibility of melting solely by the direct action of theheat of the flame the cast iron and steel without any contact of themetal to be melted with the fuel, which may be more or less pure.

Sixth. The possibility of being able to employ not exclusively coke, butother fuels,

such as certain kinds of coal, wood, and liquid hydrocarbons.

Seventh. The facility of cleaning the grate by inclining the bars of thesame, the said i11- clination being also made in order to obtain abetter distribution of the fuel.

Eighth. The mosteconomical utilization of the fuel employed, which isburned under the best conditions.

Ninth. Obtaining a much longer life of the fittings or linings, evenwhen they are made solely of refractory earth, because they are not incontact with coke except only at points situated exclusively above thefireplace and where the parts may be made of pure silica. The mainadvantages of the new furnace being thus set forth, I shall now proceedto describe all the separate parts, with reference to the characters onthe annexed drawings.

A is the fireplace proper, of round, square,

- or polygonal shape and constructed of refractory bricks. The grate atof the same is inclined in order to effect a good distribution of thefuel, which arrives with a certain speed produced by gravity by theinclined duct 13.

a is an opening extending the width of the furnace for the purpose offacilitating the cleaning of the grate from below.

The furnace is terminated at its upper part by an arched part, in whichare formed the central aperture C and the apertures c c. The aperture Gserves as a passage for the ignited products of combustion, whichimpinge against the end part D of the crucible D and then pass throughthe aperture 0, so as to rejoin in the passages c the gases that rise uptherethrough c and lick the outside of the crucible. The space E, whichis comprised between the crucible and the lining of the furnace, isreduced to a minimum, and into this space there extend projections d d,Fig. 8, which serve as baffles to retard the ascending gases.

The above-mentioned duct B is lined internally with any suitablerefractory material I), such as ganister or the like, and is providedwith a sliding door I), made of similar material. The hopper part b ofduct- 13 receives a quantity of fuel which it is desired to beintroduced at one time into the furnace. This system of distributingfuel may be replaced by another system working in a con-' tinuousmanner, the feed being effected by means of an Archimedean screw m suchas that shown in Figs. 12, 13, and 14-the working of which will beeasily understood. The crucible D may be made wholly of plumbago and inone piece, orit may, as shown, be composed of circular elements ofrefractory materials fitted together by means of tongues, or it may bemade of said refractory materials,such as ganister or the like, in onesingle rammed piece. These elements in the form of rings have lugs d,which project into the space E and which have an outer diameter equal tothe internal diameter of the furnace. These lugs are arranged so as tobreak joints-that is to say, the projections on one element overhangingthe spaces between the projections on the element beneath-therebyforming bafiies for the products of combustion and for retarding theirescape. Further, these said lugs d aid in preventing any possible bursting of the crucibles. The first element D is a special form andconstitutes the bottom of the crucible D. It has a projection CZ", Figs.6 and 7, in which is formed the hole through which the melted metal isdrawn off. This element, which is the part of the crucible which is mostexposed, may be made of plumbago, while the upper elements of thecrucible may be made simply of refractory earth. Flames after havingpassed up through the apertures C and c" and having enveloped thecrucible D pass then through the space F between the crucible B andextension H. In this manner the gases not only heat the crucible D, butalso, and especially, they aid in melting the metal which is situatedtherein at the C0111- mencement of the operation and which is placedupon a few pieces of coke that lie in the bottom of the crucible. Theprevious lining of the bottom of the crucible with a little coke may beeffected either by making the aperture G of sufficient diameter forintroducing the same, or if said aperture is of smaller diameter thenthe operation is effected by lifting and turning away the upper part ofthe furnace by the means hereinafter described. The flames whilecirculating between the top of the crucible D and the bottom of theextension H may also rise through the passages G G, which are providedto the number of four or six or more, and the said flames thus heat andmelt before direct action the metal which is placed during the operationinto the said extension H, said extension being constructed of severalparts or in one single piece of refractory earth and being arrangeddirectly above and in the axis of the furnace the walls of which arecontin ued above those of the said extension, and thus constitute a sortof furnace, which may be called a cupola-crucible. As shown in Fig. 1,extension H is composed of parts 71 h, separated by blocks it, betweenwhich latter are formed openings through which the flames enter theinterior of the extension. Part h also has openings 72 therethroughcommunicating with the passages GT. A light cover Z of refractory earthcloses the whole, while allowing any flames in excess to escape in sucha manner that it retards them only so as to produce a slight pressure ofthe gases inside the furnace. There is thus elfected by this kind ofcascade or baffle, first, an intense heating of the crucible D by theflame, which is able to reach its contents; second, the direct actionexerted by said flames by reason of their introduction through the holesor the zone F and the passages G G in the extension H and contact withthe material contained therein; third and finally, there is the actionof the saidflames also upon the metal piled in the extension passage ormouth R in such a manner as to aid to fuse the same by means of theextension H. Thus there is effected the best utilization of the heatcontained in these flames, while avoiding all contact with the fuel.

I, Fig. 6, is the plug which is pivoted at J and which serves (in caseof melting bronze) especially for closing the outlet-orifice for themetal. Any other arrangement may be employed so long as the fou ndrymanis protected from jets of melted metal.

K, Fig. 1, is an aperture formed in the top of the crucible B andconnected through a small passage to the exterior of the furnace in sucha manner as to allow the floating slag to flow out. This aperture isstopped externally by means of a plug of refractory earth during theworking of the furnace. It is unstopped in order to give issue to theflames when it is desired to heat the metal after having removed theextension and covered the crucible.

Z Z are spy-holes which allow of observing the behavior of the fuel onthe grate and of stokingit for the purpose of spreading it out ifnecessary.

The new crucible-furnace in the form of a cupola being thus described, Ishall now proceed to describe its mode of operation, or rather theprocess for producing a melting,

or the melting, becausethe said melt may be continued.

A sufficient charge of coke is placed upon the grate, and also a fewpieces of cokeare placed in the bottomof the crucible D. Then the metalto be melted is placed on top of this sinall quantity of coke and in theextension as much as it can hold. The blast is then turned on, gently atfirst and then more powerfully, and before any coke commences to sink onthe grate successive small charges of coke are fed in. As the metaldescends in the crucible more metal is placed in the extension unlessthe desired quantity has been able to be placed at one time for a melt.Cleaning is effected When necessary in order to remove the slag and toleave the whole of the useful space for the melted metal, and when thefusion is completely effected the running-out hole is unstopped and thedesired quantity of metal is drawn off, the procedure being exactly thesame as with an ordinary cupola, for which it may be used as asubstitute for melting small quantities of ore or metal.

The furnace might be erected and charged and operated in the mannerabove described; but it is necessary to make allowances for the wear andtear of refractory material and for the necessary repairs. In order tofacilitate the construction of the furnace, its erection, and therepairs which become necessary from time to time, the apparatus has beendivided into four distinct parts, each inclosed in a sheet-metal casingof the same diameter fiting in a common uniting-ring and consisting,first, of the part X, which incloses the grate and the furnace; second,of the part Y, which carries the feeding apparatus; third, of the partZ,which carries the crucible, and, fourth,

of the part WV, which carries the extension. In 7 each of the casings ofthese parts and on the same side there is provided a projecting part 'm,in which is formed an opening. (See Fig.

Near the furnace and on the side where it is least inconvenient there isarranged a small column N, cast hollow, in which there is formed alongitudinal slot n. A screw V carries three nuts i each having an arm1; thereon projecting through slot at and supporting a ring V V V,respectively, movable on the column N. Screw V may be rotated byhand-wheel 0. Three supports S S S engage about and are fitted to movewith slight friction upon the said column above the rings V V" V,respectively. These supports carry pins M, which fit into the openingsin projections m, and the nuts V, which move them, are adjusted in sucha manner as regards their position as to height on the screw V that onbeginning to turn the hand-wheel 0 first the part which contains theextension to is raised a few centimeters, which allows of turning thissaid first part to the extent desired. Then on continuing to turn thehand-wheel the part Z, which contains the crucible, is raised, and thenthe part Y, which contains the fuel'feeding device, in such a mannerthat each part is thus separated from the others for the purpose ofeffooting repairs or for the complete reconstruction of the furnace. Itwill be readily understood that it is sufificient to actuate the columnby means of the central screw in the opposite way in order to replaceall the parts mentioned without delay.

I claim- 1. In a smelting-furnace, the combination with a fire place orchamber, of a cruciblechamber located above said fire-chamber, passagesconnecting the fire-chamber with the crucible-chamber, and a cruciblelocated entirely within the crucible-chamber, said crucible being formedwith projections on its outer face which. fit closely the walls of thecrucible-chamber and are so arranged that the projections above overhangthe spaces between the projections below whereby said projections act asbattles to cause the flames to take a zigzag course in ascending aboutthe crucible.

2. In a melting-furnace, the combination with a fire place or chamber,of a cruciblechamber located above and in comm unication with thefire-chamber, a crucible located ontirely within said crucible chamberand formed of a plurality of superimposed hollow sections, each made inone piece of refractory material and which sections have projections ontheir outer faces which fit closely the walls of the crucible-chamber.

3. In a melting-furnace, the combination with a fire place or chamber,of a cruciblechamber located above and in com munication with thefire-chamber, a crucible located entirely within said crucible chamberand formed of a plurality of superimposed hollow sections, each made inone piece of refractory material and which sections have projections ontheir outer faces which fit closely the walls of the crucible-chamberand are so arranged that the projections on the upper sections overhangthe spaces between the projections on the lower sections thereby actingas baffles to the flames arising around the crucible.

4. In a melting-furnace, the combination with a fire place or chamber,of a cruciblechamber located above and in comm unication with thefireplace, a crucible in said cruciblechamber, said crucible beingformed of a lower cup-shaped section having a spout projecting therefromthrough the side Wall of the furnace, a number of superimposed hollowsections above said cup-shaped section, each of said hollow sectionsbeing formed in one piece, and projections on said sections fittingclosely within the crucible-chamber.

5. The combination with a smelting-furnace composed of a plurality ofsuperimposed separable parts or sections, of a column located inproximity to thefurnace,supports or brackets connected at their outerends to the several upper sections of the furnace respectively and freeto swing about said column as a pivot, and means for elevating saidsupports and sections in succession.

6. The combination with asmelting-furnace composed of a plurality ofsuperimposed separable parts or sections, of a column located inproximity to the furnace,supports or brackets connected at their outerends to the several upper sections of the furnace respectively and freeto swing about said column as a pivot, a vertical slot in one side ofthe colnmn,a screw vertically disposed in the coin mn,nuts on said screweach having an arm thereon projecting through the slot in the column,and rings or collars about and free to slide on the column, said collarsbeing located one above the projecting end of each arm and beneath eachsupport.

7. The combination of a smelting-furnace, comprising four superimposedseparable sections, namely, a fixed part consisting of the grate andfire-chamber, the next section embracing the top wall of thefire-chamber and the fuel feeding or distributing device, the thirdportion embracing the crucible, and finally the topmost sectioncontaining the extension, the three upper sections being movable, of acolumn located in close proximity to the furnace, and means on saidcolumn for elevating the three upper sections and independently swingingthe same about the column as a pivot.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT PIAT.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MAoLEAN, EDWARD BEUGNIOT.

